Fundamental Aspects of Plasma Chemical Physics

This book describes plasma thermodynamics of one-temperature and multi-temperature ideal and non-ideal equilibrium plasmas by using concepts of classical and statistical thermodynamics. Concentrating on the formulation of electronic partition function and its derivatives on the basis of complete sets of energy levels and relevant multiplicities, it describes links with the properties of single species. A similar exploration is also used to include the ro-vibrational states. Emphasis is given to the dependence of frozen and reactive contributions of the mixture properties, such as enthalpy, entropy, and specific heat, on the cut-off criterion used to avoid the divergence of the electronic partition function. Natural cut-off criteria are reformulated by interpreting numerical results obtained by solving the Schrödinger equation in a box with Coulomb and Debye-Hückel potentials. To heighten clarity of concepts and mathematical approaches, worked examples are provided throughout the book. The book explains the main aspects of the thermodynamics of equilibrium plasmas, introducing novel approaches for the reduction of the treatment of energy level manifold to a two/three level system. The book provides clear assessment of fundamental concepts and theoretical formulation, based on a unified methodological approach, and propels insight towards related scientific problems still open to the research community.